Gujarat: 72-hour recovery drive begins in Surat, over 9,100 flood-hit families surveyed

Surat, July 10 (IANS) The Surat district administration has launched an intensive post-flood recovery operation, with the Gujarat government aiming to restore normal life, business activities and commercial operations in the city’s worst-affected areas within the next 48 to 72 hours after floodwaters receded.

The large-scale relief and restoration exercise is being carried out under the supervision of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi chaired a high-level review meeting late on Thursday night. The meeting was attended by district coordination officers, senior officials of the Surat Municipal Corporation and the district administration.

Sanghavi directed officials to prioritise three immediate tasks — rapid drainage of waterlogged areas, large-scale sanitation and cleaning operations, and public health measures to prevent the outbreak of water-borne diseases.

He issued strict instructions to the administration and the municipal corporation to ensure there was no delay in the relief effort.

The administration has already completed a door-to-door survey of more than 9,100 families affected by the floods.

According to Sanghavi, more than 800 affected families have received financial assistance of Rs 6,800 each towards household essentials and cash dole.

“The administration is working round the clock to provide immediate relief to citizens affected by the floods. A door-to-door survey of around 9,100 families has been completed, and assistance of Rs 6,800 each has already reached more than 800 affected families. Separate teams have been deployed to ensure that all remaining eligible families receive the assistance by late tonight,” Sanghavi said.

The government has also begun assessing damage suffered by traders. Surveys covering markets, shops and commercial establishments in around 58 small and large lanes, neighbourhoods and commercial areas across Surat will be completed on priority.

“The survey findings would be placed before Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, under whose chairmanship a decision on government assistance for affected traders would be taken in the coming days,” he asserted.

He said the government was proactively compiling data so that financial assistance could be extended without unnecessary delay. To ensure no affected household is left out, the administration has appointed a special officer at the Surat Collector’s office and activated a dedicated helpline. If any locality or housing society has been omitted from the survey due to technical reasons, residents can contact the helpline.

Sanghavi said the entire government machinery, district administration and municipal corporation were working day and night under the Chief Minister’s leadership to restore normalcy. “Within a very short time, Surat will once again stand resilient and resume its role as one of the country’s engines of development,” he said.

–IANS

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